The file photo shows a refugee from Ethiopia (L) receiving a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Buluk Police Hospital in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on May 20, 2021. (Photo by Denis Elamu/Xinhua)
South Sudan, the World Bank, and two UN agencies on Saturday kicked off a COVID-19 vaccine campaign following the arrival of 3.9 million vaccine doses into the country.
JUBA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan, the World Bank, and two UN agencies on Saturday kicked off a COVID-19 vaccine campaign following the arrival of 3.9 million vaccine doses into the country.
South Sudanese Minister of Health Yolanda Awel Deng said vaccination coverage remains low in the country, and the country-wide campaign aims to reach the 70 percent target.
She said these extra resources will enable South Sudan to strengthen its health system preparedness and help address the urgent health and nutrition needs.
The minister said teams of health professionals and community mobilizers are working across 80 counties over the next three months to engage with leaders and communities to administer COVID-19 vaccines for all people aged 18 and above.
The file photo shows health workers disinfecting a consignment of COVID-19 vaccines at Juba International Airport in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Aug. 31, 2021. (Photo by Denis Elamu/Xinhua)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccination campaign is part of the additional financing of 200 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank, aimed at improving capacity to respond to COVID-19 and providing essential health service delivery.
World Bank Country Manager Firas Raad said additional financing and the campaign will help the government address challenges in both the procurement and deployment of vaccines across the country.
Raad said the financing will also strengthen South Sudan's disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and overall emergency preparedness at the national and sub-national levels.
The file photo shows a South Sudanese health worker receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on April 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu)
WHO Representative for South Sudan Fabian Ndenzako said the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to the people of South Sudan contributes to the equitable access to vaccines that are required to effectively respond to this pandemic.
The floods as well as violence in some parts of the country have hampered COVID-19 and regular childhood vaccine deployment efforts as well as access to health services - increasing risks of social exclusion, particularly for those living in remote, conflict, and flood-affected areas, according to the UN.
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Representative in South Sudan Hamida Lasseko said the partnership allows UNICEF to reach women and children in some of the hardest-to-reach communities in South Sudan and provide critical access to basic health services and ensure COVID-19 vaccination coverage -- enabling their right to survival and health. ■
